Measure Bed and Cut Fabrics

1. Measure width and length of the bed’s box spring. Add 1" to the width measurement and 2-3/4" to the length measurement to allow for seam allowances and hem. Cut and piece a muslin rectangle to those dimensions to make center panel.

2. Turn a short edge of muslin center panel under 1/4"; press. Turn same edge under 2"; press. Topstitch folded edge in place to hem top edge of center panel.

3. Measure around center panel, starting at point A, and working alphabetically through D (Diagram 8). Divide resulting measurement by four and mark those points on the edges of the center panel.

4. Measure the distance from the top edge of the box spring to the floor. Add 3" to this measurement (to allow for seam allowances and a hem).

5. For a flat bed skirt:To the A-to-D measurement determined in Step 3, add 6" for each pleat desired; we used pleats only at the bottom corners of the bed skirt.

6. For a gathered bed skirt: Multiply the A-to-D measurement determined in Step 3 by 2-1/2. (Depending on the fullness you want in the finished bedskirt and the weight of your fabric, you may wish to multiply by a higher or smaller number.)

7. Cut and piece medium floral according to measurements determined in steps 4 and 5 to make skirt.Download this Project [1]

Finish Flat Bed Skirt

1. Turn one long edge of the skirt under 1/2"; press. Turn the same edge under 2"; press. Topstitch folded edge in place to hem the skirt. Repeat with each short edge. (For a bed with a footboard, make the skirt in three sections—two for the sides and one for the foot—to accommodate the legs.)

2. At points where pleats are desired (ours are at points B and C), fold a 3"-wide finished pleat (Diagram 9).

3. Place the skirt on the center panel, matching pleats to points B and C and matching all raw edges; pin. Join the pieces, using a 1/2" seam allowance, to complete the bedskirt.

Finish Gathered Bed Skirt

1. Turn one long edge of the skirt under 1/2"; press. Turn the same edge under 2"; press. Topstitch folded edge in place to hem the skirt. Repeat with each short edge. (For a bed with a footboard, make the skirt in three sections—two for the sides and one for the foot—to accommodate the legs.)

2. Position the cording 1/4" from the raw edge of the skirt. Firmly stitch across one end of the cord to secure it, then zigzag-stitch over the length of the cord, being careful not to sew through it (Diagram 10).

3. Working along the skirt’s raw edge, divide the length into fourths; mark.

4. Place the skirt on the center panel, matching marks and raw edges (Diagram 11); pin. Pull the cord to gather the skirt into an even fit; pin in place. Join the pieces, using a 1/2" seam allowance, to complete the bedskirt.

Assemble Decorative Pillow

1. Referring to Diagram 1, sew together five assorted pink print 2x10" strips and four white tone-on-tone 2x10" strips to make a strip set A. Press seams away from white strips. Cut into four 2"-wide A segments total.

2. Repeat Step 1 to make four more A segments using different assorted pink prints.

7. Referring to Diagram 3, pin rickrack to quilted pillow top, curving corners slightly. Where the ends meet, overlap them slightly and draw tails toward raw edge. Sew around pillow top with a scant 1/4" seam allowance, following the curve at each corner to just barely catch the rickrack.

8. Sew together pillow top and backing rectangle, stitching just inside previous stitching line and leaving a 4" opening along bottom edge. Turn pillow right side out through opening and stuff with fiberfill. Hand-stitch opening closed.

Measure Nightstand and Cut Fabrics

1. For top panel: Measure width and length of top surface of nightstand you’re covering. Add 1" to each measurement to allow for seam allowances. Cut one of these rectangles each from green gingham and muslin.

2. For side panels: Measure from top edge of nightstand to floor (or where you want bottom edge of slipcover to fall). Add 9-1/2" to this height measurement to allow for seam allowances and pocket. Measure width of side panel of nightstand and add 1" to allow for seam allowances. Cut two of these rectangles each from green gingham and muslin.

3. For front and back panels: Add 1" to height measurement from Step 2. Add 1" to width measurement from Step 1. Cut two of these rectangles each from green gingham and muslin.

4. For optional pleat panels: Add 1" to height measurement from Step 2. Cut two 7"-wide rectangles this height each from green gingham and muslin.

Assemble Slipcover

1. Right sides together and using 1/2" seam allowances, sew each green gingham side, front, and back panel to a coordinating muslin lining piece along side and bottom edges; press. Turn in top, raw edges 1/4" and baste closed. (If desired, prepare two pleat panels in same manner.)

2.On each side panel, turn up bottom edge 9" and pin. Topstitch in place close to side edges to make pocket.

3.Following manufacturer's instructions, cover two buttons and hand-sew a button to top center of each pocket, stitching through all layers.

4. Referring to Diagram 6, baste rickrack to all edges of green gingham top panel. Right sides together and using 1/2" seam allowances, sew green gingham top panel to coordinating muslin lining piece along all edges, leaving an opening for turning in back edge. Turn right side out and press. Slip-stitch opening closed.

5. Referring to Diagram 7, position side, top, front, and back panels on a large flat surface. Lap side, front, and back panels under the top panel by about 1/4". Topstich through middle of rickrack to secure panels in place.

6. If desired, add pleat panels to conceal nightstand corners. Place them underneath the side, front, and back panels and topstitch in place as in Step 5.